By Islam El-Sakka
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico on Friday as officials announced a $280,000 partnership aimed at helping the U.S. territory address chronic power outages and water shortages.
Partnership Details
The agreement between the Hispanic Federation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York will equip 10 community-run resiliency hubs across the island with increased water storage capacity. Some hubs will also receive rain-collection systems, kitchen infrastructure, and solar power with battery storage. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York is contributing $210,000, while the Hispanic Federation raised an additional $70,000.
“Puerto Rico’s families have lived through more disasters than anyone should have to,” said Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of the Hispanic Federation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who is on the island for a four-day annual conference alongside Mamdani, added that conversations about climate change and environmental justice are essential to community wellbeing.
Context of Federal Funding Cuts
The announcement comes months after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump canceled solar projects in Puerto Rico that were intended to assist thousands of low-income families. One project, valued at $400 million, would have installed solar and battery storage systems in low-income homes and those with medical needs. The U.S. Department of Energy said the funds would instead be directed toward maintaining Puerto Rico’s power grid, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and had already been weakened by a lack of maintenance and investment.
Lawsuit Over Canceled Solar Programs
Last week, six Puerto Rico residents sued the U.S. Energy Department and its secretary, Chris Wright, following the termination of a $1 billion federally funded program to provide solar power and battery storage to those most in need. Among the plaintiffs is 63-year-old Arecibo resident Ileana Ríos, who is diabetic and relies on refrigeration for insulin, while her son uses a nebulizer for asthma. The lawsuit states that Ríos regularly loses power even in stable weather and can be without electricity for weeks during storms. The plaintiffs are asking a judge to order the reinstatement of the grant program.
Impact on Nonprofits
The funding loss has dealt a blow to nonprofits that faced months of uncertainty while awaiting the Trump administration’s decision on the program’s future. Sybelle Rodriguez del Valle, director of operations at the energy resilience nonprofit Barrio Eléctrico, said the organization had completed only about one-third of its projects before the program ended, losing an estimated $16 million to $20 million in funding. Barrio Eléctrico provides electric service to more than 500 families across 12 municipalities and had been poised to serve 1,200 families with the federal funds.
